Civilians, Soldiers, and Strife: Domestic Sources of International Aggression

Abstract

Kurt Dassel of Harvard University examines the conditions under which domestic turmoil will cause the military to engage in foreign aggression to divert attention away from internal problems. Building on both militarist and diversionary theories of war, Dassel argues that the military will generally prefer to use force at home. If, however, employing force domestically would cause a military organization to divide against itself, then it will secure its interests by pursuing aggression abroad. Dassel generates several case studies to support his argument.